The Hindu Business Line : Toyota refuses to keep staff dismissal in abeyance

TOYOTA Kirloskar Motor Ltd (TKML) today rejected the suggestion of keeping the dismissal of three employees in abeyance as a condition for resuming work in the strike-hit Bidadi plant.

The decision came after the TKML had meeting with the Deputy Labour Commissioner and the conciliation officer today. The company also refused to lift the lockout as part of the condition for restoring normal work.

The company sources said that TKML presented its case at the reconciliation meeting called by the Labour Commissioner, after studying in detail the proposal made by the Employees Union. In its reply, the management stated that the dismissals were done after a thorough legal process following the principle of natural justice.

"An independent inquiry was held, and the charges were proved beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore there was no question of keeping the dismissals in abeyance as demanded by the union."

TKML also communicated its inability to lift the lockout in the existing circumstances. It alleged that non-striking workmen and their families were being threatened following the mass scale violence and threat to blow up the LPG tanks last weekend.

"The atmosphere is still grave, tense and there is no safety for non-striking team members and company's property. The Company requested the Labour Commissioner's office to advice the Union to stop violence, threats etc and restore normalcy and discipline without any preconditions," said a TKML statement.

Meanwhile, a union representative said in view of the failure of the conciliation talks, the TKM Employees Union has decided to hold dharna in different parts of the city until their demands were met.

He said the Deputy Labour Commissioner would be sending a report of today's conciliation talks to the Government. He hoped that the Government would intervene and resolve the stalemate.